Chorus has today announced the appointment of Kate McKenzie as its new CEO,
effective from February 2017.
Kate is a highly regarded and experienced telco executive. Most recently
Kate was Telstra''s Chief Operations Officer, responsible for Telstra''s field
services, IT and network architecture and operations. Prior to that, she was
Group Managing Director, Innovation, Products and Marketing. Other previous
roles at Telstra include Group Managing Director, Wholesale, and Group
Managing Director, Regulatory, Public Policy and Communications.
Prior to joining Telstra, Kate was a CEO in the NSW Government of the
Departments of Commerce, Industrial Relations and the Workcover Authority.
She worked in the Cabinet Office on the development and implementation of
competition policy, energy reform, privatisation and a range of complex
Commonwealth/State negotiations.
Chorus Chairman Patrick Strange said, "The Board is very pleased that Kate
has agreed to lead Chorus. She is one of the most highly rated
telecommunications executives in the region. We believe the combination of
Kate''s clear leadership qualities and her broad range of relevant experience
made her the standout choice in a field of high quality candidates.
"We look forward to Kate leading Chorus'' people to build on the excellent
platform left for her by Mark Ratcliffe, and the successful roll out of
Ultra-fast Broadband," he said.
Kate McKenzie said "As a provider of strategically critical infrastructure,
Chorus has a pivotal role to play in New Zealand''s future and I am looking
forward to contributing to the next stage of its development, with a strong
focus on delivering great experiences for customers.
"I have admired Chorus'' roll out of very high quality broadband
infrastructure and I look forward to playing my part in working with the rest
of the telecommunications sector to make it as easy as possible for our
customers to enjoy the benefits of this nation-wide upgrade and all of the
social and economic benefits that will deliver."
Patrick Strange and the Board thanked Mark Ratcliffe for his service as CEO.
"Following a handover period in February, Mark will step down from Chorus
with the thanks and best wishes of the Board for a job well done.
"Having skillfully navigated through the establishment of Chorus and some
tumultuous years, Mark can step down knowing the fibre rollout is going well,
the company is in a strong position and it has been recognised as one of the
best employers in Australasia for five consecutive years," he said.
ENDS
Kate McKenzie biography
Before joining Chorus, Kate McKenzie was most recently COO of Telstra, the
largest telecommunications company in Australia. She joined Telstra in 2004
and held a range of senior executive roles in strategy, marketing, products
and wholesale.
Kate has a passion for innovation and technology and for customer centricity
and has an impressive track record in delivering growth, productivity and
change management.
Kate also has significant corporate governance experience and is currently on
the board of Allianz, having previously been on the boards of Foxtel, Sydney
Water, Reach, CSL and Workcover.
Prior to her experience at Telstra, Kate was involved in a number of
micro-economic reform initiatives, including the sale of a bank and an
insurance company, sale of water assets and the establishment of the national
electricity market.
Kate is a qualified lawyer with a strong track record in understanding
government and regulatory environments.
She is also is a member of Chief Executive Women, has served on the Telstra
Foundation, Telstra''s philanthropic arm and has had a long history of
involvement in promoting the interests of indigenous communities.
Kate has two adult children who are attending university, and she lives with
her husband and their two dogs, Milo and Willa. She enjoys yoga, cycling and
walking, and she and her husband will move to New Zealand when she takes up
the Chorus role.
For further information:
Ian Bonnar
GM Corporate Relations
Mobile: +64 (27) 215 7564
Email: ian.bonnar@chorus.co.nz
Brett Jackson
Investor Relations Manager
Phone: +64 4 896 4039
Mobile: +64 (27) 488 7808
Email: brett.jackson@chorus.co.nz
End CA:00294526 For:CNU Type:OFFICE Time:2016-12-19 08:38:51